Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 と 敵てき として 戦たたか う to fight someone as an enemy
They have fought each other as enemies for many years.
敵てき に 勝か つ to defeat the enemy
We were able to defeat the enemy with this strategy.
〈 人ひと 〉 を 敵てき に 作つく る to make an enemy of someone
If you talk like that, you'll make enemies.
敵てき に 立た ち 向む かう to face the enemy head-on
He bravely faced the enemy head-on.
敵てき に 囲かこ まれる to be surrounded by enemies
The unit ended up surrounded by enemies.
Expressions· 17 敵てき に 付つ く side with the enemy; join the enemy's side 敵てき に 回まわ す make an enemy of; turn into an enemy; antagonize 敵てき を 倒たお す defeat one's enemy; kill one's opponent Show 3 more Show fewer 敵てき に 掛か かる assail the enemy; attack the enemy 敵てき に 塩しお を 送おく る to help an enemy in difficulty; to show humanity even to one's enemy See all 17 in Explore →
Related words· 8 相手 is a neutral term for the other party in an interaction, while 敵 specifically implies hostility or competition.
ライバル is a borrowed word for a rival in competition, usually without the strong hostility that 敵 can carry.
仇 is a more literary or dramatic word for a mortal enemy, often used in stories of revenge, whereas 敵 is the everyday general term.
敵 is the general word for an 'enemy' (a person, group, or abstract rival), while 敵国 specifically means an enemy nation.
Show 4 more Show fewer 敵 is the general, common word for an enemy or opponent, while 仇 carries a stronger nuance of personal vengeance or a long-held grudge.
敵 is a general word for 'enemy' or 'opponent', while 宿敵 specifically implies a long-standing, often historic rivalry.
敵 is a broad word for an enemy or foe in any context, whereas 政敵 narrows this to someone opposed in the political arena.
敵 means 'enemy' or 'opponent' with a stronger adversarial nuance, whereas 競争相手 simply denotes someone one competes against.
Opposites· 10 friend; ally; supporter · taking sides with; supporting; backing up
敵 means an enemy in battle, the direct opposite of 戦友 , a comrade who fights on one's own side.
敵 means an opponent or enemy in competition, the opposite of チームメイト who fights on your side.
Show 7 more Show fewer 敵 means enemies or foes, the opposite of the supportive group implied by 仲間たち .
友 means a friend who supports you, while 敵 means an enemy who opposes you.
友達 means a friend who supports you, while 敵 means an enemy or opponent who is against you.
敵 means 'enemy', the direct opposite of 仲間 in the sense of ally or comrade.
敵 is an enemy or adversary, the direct opposite of 盟友 , a trusted ally bound by a shared cause.
敵 means an enemy or opponent, the opposite of a 同志 who shares one's cause and stands on the same side.
敵 means an enemy or adversary, the opposite of 友人 , a friend.
Don't confuse with 的 (てき ) is a homophone meaning 'target' or the adjectival suffix '-like/-ic', completely unrelated to 敵 (an enemy).
Written with the same kanji, 敵 read てき is the neutral, everyday word for 'enemy' or 'opponent', whereas 敵 read かたき carries a stronger sense of personal grudge or long-term rivalry.
敵する is a homophone written with 敵 meaning to oppose or be a match for an enemy, unlike 適する which means to be suitable or fitting.
敵 means 'enemy' and implies hostility or ill will, while ライバル implies competition without necessarily any negative feelings.
Word family· 68 lovely; wonderful; fantastic
invincible; unbeatable; matchless
hostility; antagonism; opposition
rival; equal; be a match for
hostility; enmity; animosity
Show 25 more Show fewer formidable enemy; strong opponent; tough adversary
natural enemy; predator; archenemy
hostility; enmity; regarding as an enemy
old enemy; arch-enemy; traditional rival
enemy nation; hostile country
enemy search; reconnaissance
enemy camp; enemy lines · last three rows of the board (shogi)
daring; fearless; bold
enemy ship; enemy warship
foreign enemy; outside invader
political opponent; political rival
powerful enemy; great rival; archenemy
hostile nature; inimical character
in the face of the enemy; before the enemy
enemy of the emperor; rebel against the imperial court
bitter enemy; sworn enemy
hostility; enmity; antagonism
enemy attack; enemy raid
benefiting the enemy
opponent in a debate; adversary in an argument
enemy of Buddhism
encountering the enemy
public enemy
formidable foe; powerful enemy
confronting the enemy; hostilities
See all 68 in Explore →
Written forms 敵てき Usage 100%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency word.
テキ Usage <1%
Etymology The kanji 敵 originally meant 'enemy' or 'opponent' in Chinese. The Japanese reading てき is the on'yomi. The word has been used since Old Japanese to refer to adversaries and threats.
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